Upgrading your phone? Your old cell could save lives

Lubbock, TX (KCBD) – It is all the craze to have the latest and greatest technology as soon as it hits the market. Nearly two million people own the latest version of the iPhone 4 with more expected to be bought Tuesday morning. Here on the South Plains, one in four women would be happy to have your old phone. Your upgrade with any company could save lives.

Your old version or old phone does not have to become a paperweight or sit inside a drawer. Believe it or not, it still has value and could save abused women's lives.

"We could sit here all day long and talk about instances where this has come in handy where women are walking to jobs or are out in a crowd and see their abusers. They can call 911 and get protection before something awful happens," said Roy Rios with Women's Protective Services in Lubbock.

By donating your old phone to WPS, it gives abused women a lifeline to law enforcement. "We realize the FCC requires all cells to still be able to call 911 whether they have service or not. So what should you do with your old one? Give it to us," added Rios who knows the phones work and needs your old ones to give to survivors.

"Time after time I know situations where they have come in handy and saved a life," he said. "She was attacked by her abuser, she had her cell that we had given to her that was given to us and called 911," referencing an instance where the cell saved a life.

The only call your donated phone will make is to 9-1-1. If you are thinking about upgrading, the shelter hopes to get your used phone. The AT&T store at 601 University will take your donated phones and chargers to Women's Protective Services.

For more information on how you can help victims of domestic violence clickhere.